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Press Releases
Two Outstanding Guest Artists to Highlight VSO Performances February 27 & 28
Award Winning Conductor and Internationally Renowned Guitar Virtuoso will join the VSO for the Upcoming Concert
[Vancouver, WA. January 19, 2021] – The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra continues its 42nd season with live streamed performances featuring award winning Maestro Francesco Lecce-Chong and top prize winning classical guitar virtuoso Adam Levin. Maestro Lecce-Chong will lead the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in a remarkable program including magnificent Brooklyn-based Jessie Montgomery’s beautiful and textural Strum for string orchestra, Grazyna Bacewicz’s energetic Concerto for String Orchestra, and the charming Divertimento No. 1 in D Major by W.A. Mozart. Mr. Levin will perform two pieces for classical guitar: contemporary Spanish-American composer Leonardo Balada’s Caprichos No. 1 for guitar and string orchestra, Balada’s brilliant homage to Federico Garcia Lorca and Joaquin Turina’s traditional Spanish work Fantasia-Sevillana for solo guitar.
Recognized for his dynamic performances, fresh programming and deep commitment to commissioning and performing new music, Maestro Lecce-Chong is currently serving as the Music Director and conductor of Eugene and Santa Rosa Symphony Orchestras. He has appeared with orchestras around the world including the San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic and many others.
Adam Levin, an internationally recognized instrumentalist and recording artist, has received several top prizes including Concurso Internacional de les Corts para Jóvenes Intérpretes in Barcelona, Concurso Internazionale Di Gargnano, and Certamen Internacional Luys Milan de Guitarra in Valencia. In 2010, his primary chamber ensemble Duo Sonidos was awarded first prize at the Luys Milán International Chamber Music Competition in Valencia, Spain.
The February 27 and 28 performances will feature a reduced orchestra and will be streamed live from Skyview Concert Hall without an in-person audience (in accordance with Washington State’s guidelines for Phase 2). The broadcast on Saturday, February 27 will begin at 6:30pm with the fifth installment of the celebrated VSO pre-concert show Da Capo, hosted by VSO Podcast host Ashley Hall and VSO trombonist Greg Scholl. Intermission will feature special, not-to-be-missed interviews. The performance and the show on Sunday, February 28 will also be streamed live and will begin at 2:30pm.
What: VSO February Live Stream
When: Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 7 p.m. (pre-concert show at 6:30pm) and Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 3 p.m. (pre-concert show at 2:30pm)
Where: Live streamed from Skyview Concert Hall to your viewing devices on the VSO website
Tickets: Free with season subscription. Single tickets are $30. Available online or by calling 360-735-7278
Program:
Caprichos No. 1 – Leonardo Balada
*Adam Levin
Fantasia-Sevillana – Joaquin Turina
*Adam Levin
Strum for String Orchestra – Jessie Montgomery
Concerto for String Orchestra – Grazyna Bacewicz
Divertimento No. 1 in D Major, K.138 for String Orchestra – W.A. Mozart
Tickets
All current season ticket holders will receive a secure email link in order to access the live stream performances.
Single tickets to view the live stream are on sale now. A secure email link will be emailed to each single ticket buyer.
Our tech support team will be on standby to assist you if you have any issues logging in during the performances.
Safety Precautions
Two physicians on the VSO Board of Directors–Dr. Michael Liu and Dr. David Smith–helped to develop the safety protocols for the musicians in coordination with the Washington Health Department.
Musicians will perform at an appropriate distance and wear face masks.
The size of the orchestra will be reduced to ensure appropriate distancing.
Future Performances
We are working closely with the Department of Health to monitor the latest COVID-19 developments and will be adjusting our season’s programming accordingly. Changes will be promptly communicated to the audience
Maestro Brotons
Due to current travel restrictions in both the United States and Europe, Maestro Brotons will not be able to join the VSO for this performance. We hope that Maestro will join us for our upcoming concerts, depending on safety guidelines in place at that time.
About Francesco Lecce-Chong
Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong is the Music Director of the Eugene Symphony in Oregon, and the Santa Rosa Symphony, performing at the Green Music Center in Northern California. The press has described him as a “fast rising talent in the music world” with “the real gift” and recognized his dynamic performances, fresh programming, deep commitment to commissioning and performing new music as well as to community outreach. Mr. Lecce-Chong has appeared with orchestras around the world including the San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and Hong Kong Philharmonic and collaborated with top soloists including Renée Fleming and Itzhak Perlman.
In spring 2019, Mr. Lecce-Chong debuted in subscription concerts with the San Francisco Symphony. The San Francisco Chronicle called his conducting “first rate” praising the “vitality and brilliance of the music-making he drew from members of the San Francisco Symphony.” Other recent subscription debuts included the Colorado Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic and Xi’An Symphony Orchestra. Mr. LecceChong’s also returned to conduct the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Milwaukee and San Diego Symphony. The 19/20 season marked his debut with the New York Philharmonic as part of the legendary Young People’s Concert Series.
Mr. Lecce-Chong is the recipient of several distinctions, including the prestigious Solti Foundation Award. Trained also as a pianist and composer, he completed his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music with Otto-Werner Mueller after attending the Mannes College of Music and Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Italy. He has had the privilege of being mentored and supported by celebrated conductors including Bernard Haitink, David Zinman, Edo de Waart, Manfred Honeck, Donald Runnicles and Michael Tilson Thomas.
About Adam Levin
Praised for his “visceral and imaginative performances” by the Washington Post, top prize winning classical guitarist and recording artist Adam Levin has performed on four continents across the globe. Levin has performed extensively across the United States at renowned venues such as Chicago’s Pick Staiger, Nichols, and Mayne Stage concert halls as well as at the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago; Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Jordan Hall; Spivey Hall in Atlanta; repeat appearances at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City; and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In Europe, Levin has performed in some of the finest venues across Spain, and in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. In the 2017-2018 season, Levin makes several debut solo, chamber, and orchestral appearances in China, Finland, and Ireland as well as return appearances in Brazil and Spain. Adam Levin’s live performances have been featured nationally numerous times on NPR’s Performance Today, the nationally syndicated Classical Guitar Alive, and studio performances on top radio stations including WFMT Chicago and WCRB Boston.
Levin also served as artistic director of the second annual University of Rhode Island Guitar Festival and performed chamber music with Duo Sonidos at Charlotte’s Bechtsler Museum and with The Kithara Project Trio at Chatter in Albuquerque, NM, and in Austin, TX. Internationally, Levin performed recitals in numerous venues in Spain, Hungary, and Austria in Europe and a debut tour of Brazil, where he was immediately invited to return for a second tour in 2017-2018. Additionally, Levin’s 2017-2018 season includes international debut tours in China, Finland, and Ireland.
About Salvador Brotons
Maestro Salvador Brotons returns for his 30th season as Artistic Director and Conductor of the VSO. In addition to the VSO, he has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Orquestra Simfònica de les Illes Balears “Ciutat de Palma” (1997-2001, 2009-2013) and the Orquestra Sinfónica del Vallés (1997-2002). He is presently the Conductor of the Barcelona Symphonic Band. In 2005, he received the “Arts Council” award by the Clark County and The City of Vancouver as well as the Kiwanis Rose Award. He has guest conducted orchestras in countries such as the U.S., Israel, France, Germany, China, Poland, South Korea, Mexico, Uruguay, and Colombia.
About The VSO
The VSO, now in its 42nd season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington's arts community, providing symphony music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community. For more information, please visit vancouversymphony.org.
About our Sponsors
The VSO is generously supported by individual donors, The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, All Classical Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting, The Community Foundation of Southwest Washington, The Columbian, Homewood Suites, Dick Hannah Dealerships, ENT.Office.org, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation, Propel Insurance, MedicareHelpNow, Opsahl Dawson CPAs, Realvest Corporation, and Michelle’s Piano Co.
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